Whisky Smash at Bar Louie

Sip on This

By Kathleen Petty

Photo Courtesy Bar Louie

Blake Rohrabaugh is the first to admit a glass of whisky neat doesn’t exactly say “summer.” But the vice president of beverage innovation and operations for Bar Louie doesn’t want bar-goers to have to give up the spirit just because they’re looking for something refreshing. His answer is the Whisky Smash—a Mint Julep-inspired cocktail that includes lemon juice and the same Templeton Rye Al Capone favored during Prohibition. “It’s almost like this slushy drink, but it still has a lot of flavor from the whisky,” says Rohrabaugh. Part of Bar Louie’s limited additions summer lineup, the whisky-based drink is one of three available through July 30 (the other two include an Orange Bubbly Sangria and a Summer Moon cocktail with Blue Moon and Deep Eddy Ruby Red vodka). If you’re not a whisky drinker, Rohrabaugh says the ice in the Smash takes some of the edge off the rye without heavily diluting its taste. “It’s a pretty simple drink,” he says. “We really wanted to embrace the flavors of summer.”

Ingredients

8-10 mint leaves

2 ounces Templeton rye

1 ounce fresh lemon juice

1 ounce Monin pure cane syrup

2 lemon wedges

Preparation

Add mint leaves, rye, lemon juice and syrup into a mixing glass. Fill the glass with ice and shake vigorously for about five seconds. Pour into 12-ounce glass. Garnish with lemon wedges and a mint sprig.